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(11) | EP 0 204 422 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | A uni-directional-flow, fluid valve assembly |
| (57) A substantially circular, valve assembly 10 comprises a pair of valving plates 12,
14 in which are formed separate, circular, and walled valving chambers 18. One plate
is in surmounting relationship to the others, so that the valving chambers subsist
in a plurality of tiers. All the chambers, however, are in given rows which are common
to both tiers, and any one chamber, depending upon which tier it is in, either overlies
or underlies a portion of another, adjacent chamber in the other tier. Consequently,
a greatthrough-flow volume of fluid is accommodated in a considerably compacted, overall
valve assembly area. Notwithstanding such,an integration of the valving chambers,
no one chamber obstructs the fluid flow through any other thereof. Each of the chambers
has its own inlet 20,22 and outlet 26,28 ports, a valving-element 32 movable therewith,
and a spring 46 for biasing the valving element in a given direction. |
[0001] This invention relates to fluid valves, and concerns uni-directional-flow, fluid valve assemblies which accommodate a great through-flow volume of fluid in a considerably restricted, overall area.
[0002] Known uni-directional-flow, fluid valve assemblies typically comprise single-tiered, multi-layered structures in which, however, there are unacceptable flow losses due to fluid-flow obstructions presented by one tier to the other thereof. In addition, such prior art valves have considerably large clearance volumes which, therefore, diminish the efficiency thereof.
[0003] There has long been a need for an efficient, tiered, uni-directional-flow, fluid valve assembly which can be accommodated in a small area, which affords a considerable through-flow volume of fluid, and which does not manifest significant flow losses. It is an object of this invention to provide such an efficient, novel valve assembly.
[0004] According to the invention there is provided a substantially circular, uni-directional-flow, fluid valve assembly, having a given diameter, comprising means defining pluralities of rows of separate, circular and walled valving chambers; wherein each chamber of said rows thereof has a first port opening thereinto for admitting fluid therein, and a second port opening thereinto for discharging fluid therefrom; each chamber further has, therewithin, a valving element movable to and from one of said ports, for occluding and exposing, respectively, said one port; a cross-section taken fully along said given diameter of said assembly has a given length, and bisects one of said rows of said valving chambers across the diameters of each of said chambers in said one row; and the sum of the lengths of said diameters of said chambers in said one row is greater than said given length.
[0005] The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 is a plan or top view of an embodiment of a valve assembly according to the invention having the valving elements and springs omitted for purposes of clarity; that is, to show the spring-receiving lands of the ribs;
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of Figure 1, half thereof being shown in cross-section taken from section 2-2 of Figure 1; the cross-sectional view (portion) has the springs omitted for purposes of clarity, that is, more clearly to.depiet the ribs; the valve assembly shown in Figure 2 is illustrative of the valving elements, and hence the valve assembly itself, in closed disposition;
Figure 2A is a view of the valve assembly which is identical to Figure 2, except that the valving elements, and valve assembly, are shown in the open disposition; and
Figure 3 is a greatly enlarged illustration of the valving element, spring, and dual-land ribs, which are common to each thereof in each tier, the aforesaid structures shown in relationship to the associated fluid through-flow envelope therefor formed in each valving plate.
[0006] As shown in the Figures, the valve assembly 10, according to the depicted embodiment thereof, comprises first and second valving plates 12 and 14, the former being above the latter, and the two being secured together (by hardware not shown). A stop plate 16 is similarly secured above valving plate 12. A first plurality of alternate apertures 20 define first ports for chambers 18 formed in plate 12. The second, alternate apertures 20 define conduits for communicating with first ports 22 (formed in plate 12) for chambers 18 which are formed in plate 14.
[0007] Each of the chambers 18 have second ports opening thereinto as well. The underlying surface 24 of plate 12, that is, the surface thereof which engages plate 14, has a plurality of openings 26 formed therein, the same defining the aforesaid second ports for chambers 18 in plate 12. Plate 14 has a plurality of openings 28 formed therein which define the second ports for the chambers 18 subsisting within plate 14. Further, the latter plate has a plurality of conduits 30 formed therein for communicating with the second ports 26 (formed in plate 12) for chambers 18 which subsist in plate 12.
[0008] In each of the chambers 18 there is a cup-shaped valving element 32, the same being movable therewithin. Surface 24 of plate 12 comprises a stop surface for the elements 32 which move within the chambers 18 in plate 14. Similarly, the underlying surface 34 of plate 16 defines a stop surface for the elements 32 which move within the chamber 18 in plate 12.
[0009] Each chamber 18 has a passageway 36 communicating therewith, such passageways being formed in the plates (12 and 14) in which are formed the chambers 18 with which they communicate. Each passageway 36, however, is identical with each of the others thereof; each comprises a conical wall 38 from which, intruding into the passageway 36, are three ribs 40. The ribs 40 are spaced apart one hundred and twenty degrees of arc (approximately) from each other within the passageways 36. 'Each rib has a first land 42 which, with such lands 42 on the other two ribs 40 in a passageway 36, defines a seat for the valving element 32 upon the element removing from the first ports (20 and 22). Each rib 40 also has a second land 44 upon which to receive one end of a spring 46. Springs 46 nest within the valving elements 32, at one end thereof, and set against the lands 44. Hence, elements 32 are biased toward, and in closure of, the first ports (20 and 22).
[0010] Each chamber 18, together with its associated passageway 36, first ports 20 or 22, and second ports 26 or 28 has a flow-path axis 48. Axes 48 are linear and parallel; no one axis 48 is obstructed by any other axis 48. In addition, no ports, conduits 20 or 30, or passageways 36 impede fluid flow through any others thereof. Even so, the flow-path axes 48 are efficiently compact in a relatively small area by the novel manner in which chambers, passageways and ports are formed in the two tier arrangement presented by plates 12, 14 and 16. This is made more evident by some exemplary measurements.
[0011] In Figure 1 the diameter of the valve assembly occupies the plane "A". In this exemplary embodiment of the invention, the assembly 10 has a diameter of six and three-quarter inches (17.15 cm). Now, it will be seen that plane "A" bisects seven chambers 18, directly across the diameters of each thereof. The sum of the diameters of the seven bisected chambers is greater than the aforesaid six and three-quarter inches (17.15 cm). The sum is almost seven inches (17.8 cm). Precisely, in this embodiment, each chamber has a diameter of 0.984-inch (2.5 cm), so that the seven thereof, summed, comes to 6.888- inches (17.5 cm). In fact, if a chordal cross-section were to be taken through a plane "B", here too the cross-sectional length would be less than the sum of the bisected chambers 18. Along plane "B", the chordal length is six and a half inches (16.5 cm) and of course, the seven summed chamber diameters are the 6.888-inches (17.5 cm).
[0012] The actual dimensions comprised by the exemplary, depicted embodiment are not material. What is significant is that the invention teaches how to compact a great quantity of efficient fluid flow paths, without obstructing any thereof, and having each hew to a linear axis 48, in a considerably restricted area. Accordingly, the invention has been described in connection with a specific embodiment thereof, it is to be clearly understood that this is done only by way of example, and not as a limitation to the scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.
means defining pluralities of rows of separate, circular and walled valving chambers; wherein
each chamber has a first port for admitting fluid 'therein, and a second port for discharging fluid therefrom, a valving element movable therewithin to and from one of said ports, for occluding and exposing, respectively, said one port;
a cross-section taken fully along said given diameter of said assembly has a given length, and bisects one of said rows of said valving chambers across the diameters of each of said chambers in said one row; and
the sum of the lengths of said diameters of said chambers in said one row is greater than said given length.
said cross-section defines a plane; and
alternate ones of said chambers, along said plane, each overlie a portion of another of said chambers along said plane.
said cross-section defines a plane; and
alternate ones of said chambers, along said plane, each underlie a portion of another of said chambers along said plane.
means defining pluralities of rows of separate, circular and walled valving chambers; wherein
each chamber of said rows thereof has first and second ports opening thereinto for admitting and discharging fluid, respectively, thereinto and thereform;
each chamber further has, therewithin, a valving element movable to and from one of said ports, for occluding and exposing, respectively, said one port;
a chordal cross-section taken fully across said 'assembly has a prescribed length, and bisects one of said rows of said valving chambers across the diameters of each of said chambers in said one row; and
the sum of the lengths of said diameters of said chambers in said one row is greater than said given length.
given ones of said chambers, along said plane, each overlie portions of a plurality of other said chambers along said plane.
given ones of said chambers, along said plane, each underlie portions of a plurality of other said chambers along said plane.
said chambers-defining means comprises first and second valving plates, mounted together, in which the first valving plate is in surmounting relationship to the other thereof;
one of said valving plates has alternate ones of said chambers of said rows formed therein; and
the other of said valving plates has all other chambers, that is, those other than said alternate ones, of said rows formed therein.
said chambers-defining means further comprises a stop plate surmounting said first valving plate;
said stop plate has rows of apertures formed therein which align with all of said chambers in said valving plates; and
alternate ones of said apertures each comprises said one port of one each of said chambers formed in said first valving plate.
given ones of said chambers, along said plane, each overlie portions of (a) a plurality of other of said chambers along said plane, and (b) other chambers subsisting in said rows other than said one row.
given ones of said chambers, along said plane, each underlie portions of (a) a plurality of other of said chambers along said plane, and (b) other chambers subsisting in rows other than said one row.
said first valving plate has an upper surface and a lower surface;
said other valving plate is in engagement with said lower surface; and
said lower surface defines a stop surface for said valving elements within said other chambers in said other valving plate.
each of said plates has a plurality of one of said first and second ports formed therein for each thereof to communicate with one of the chambers formed therein; and
each of said plates has passageways formed therein, intermediate said chambers and said latter ports, said passageways communicating each of said chambers with one of said latter ports.
each of said passageways has a plurality of ribs intruding thereinto;
each of said ribs has a given land; and
said lands of said ribs comprise seats upon which said valving elements come to rest upon moving from said one ports.
each of said ribs further has a second land; and further including
means engaged with said second lands and said valving elements normally urging said valving elements toward said one ports.